Peregrin Help & FAQ

Onward travel and visa rules, by country

Updated 9 August 2026 · summaries verified against official sources

Whether you need proof of onward travel depends on where you're going and who checks: the airline at check-in, the immigration officer on arrival, or the embassy with your visa application. Find your destination below for the short version, then open the full guide, or get a personalised answer for your passport.

Who checks, at a glance:

Check-in The airline asks before you board. Most common, and the strictest, because carriers are fined for flying you somewhere you cannot enter.

Immigration The border officer on arrival wants evidence you will leave.

Visa application The embassy wants a flight itinerary in your application file, weeks before you fly.

38 destinations

🇦🇷 Argentina Check-in Flying to Argentina without a return ticket? Here's what proof of onward travel for Argentina really means in 2026, and how to sort it in minutes. 🇧🇷 Brazil Check-in Brazil asks some travellers for an e-visa, and airlines check onward travel at the gate. Here's what proof of onward travel means for Brazil, and how to show it. 🇰🇭 Cambodia Visa application Cambodia is easygoing until an airline check-in desk isn't. Here's what proof of onward travel means for Cambodia and how to show it without fuss.
🇨🇦 Canada Immigration Border officers must be satisfied you'll leave at the end of your stay; an onward or return booking is the usual evidence.
🇨🇱 Chile Check-in Flying to Chile without a return ticket? Here's what proof of onward travel for Chile really means in 2026, and how to get one in minutes. 🇨🇴 Colombia Check-in Colombia-bound and worried about the onward ticket rule? Here's what airlines and immigration actually check, and how to get a valid reservation in minutes. 🇨🇷 Costa Rica Immigration Costa Rica checks proof of onward travel more than most. Here's what immigration and airlines actually want, and how to get a valid document fast. 🇦🇪 Dubai (UAE) Check-in Flying into Dubai or the UAE? Airlines check for return or onward travel at the gate. Here's what proof of onward travel means, who asks, and how to show it. 🇪🇨 Ecuador Immigration Flying to Ecuador without a return ticket? Here's what proof of onward travel for Ecuador really means in 2026, and how to get one in minutes. 🇪🇬 Egypt Visa application Egypt's visa-on-arrival is easy, but airlines still check onward travel at the gate. Here's what proof of onward travel means for Egypt in 2026. 🇫🇯 Fiji Check-in Fiji grants most visitors entry on arrival, but an onward or return ticket is a listed requirement at the border. Here's how to have it ready before you fly. 🇬🇪 Georgia Immigration Georgia is famously easy to enter, but airlines can still ask for onward travel. Here's what proof of onward travel means for Georgia and how to show it calmly. 🇬🇹 Guatemala Immigration Flying to Guatemala without a return ticket? Here's what airlines and immigration really check, and how to get valid proof of onward travel fast. 🇮🇳 India Visa application India's e-visa asks for return or onward travel, and airlines check at the gate. Here's what proof of onward travel means for India and how to show it calmly. 🇮🇩 Indonesia (Bali) Immigration Indonesia wants to see a way out before it lets you in. Here is what proof of onward travel means for Bali, who gets asked, and how to sort it without paying for a flight you will never take. 🇯🇵 Japan Immigration Entering Japan visa-free but worried about proof of onward travel? Here's what airlines and immigration actually ask for, and how to sort it fast. 🇯🇴 Jordan Immigration Flying to Jordan? Here's what proof of onward travel actually means, how the Jordan Pass affects your visa, and how to have proof ready in minutes. 🇱🇦 Laos Immigration Laos visas are usually easy, airline check-in less so. Here's what proof of onward travel means for Laos and how to have it sorted before you fly. 🇲🇾 Malaysia Immigration Malaysia waves a lot of people in visa-free, but the airline flying you there can still ask for onward travel at check-in. Here's what to have ready, and how. 🇲🇻 Maldives Check-in Every nationality gets a Maldives visa on arrival, but confirmed return or onward tickets are a listed condition, and there's the IMUGA form too. Here's the full picture. 🇲🇽 Mexico Immigration Flying to Mexico without a return date booked? Here's what counts as proof of onward travel for the FMM and airline check-in, and how to sort it fast. 🇲🇦 Morocco Immigration Morocco is visa-free for many, but airlines still check onward travel at the gate. Here's what proof of onward travel means for Morocco, and how to show it calmly. 🇳🇵 Nepal Visa application Nepal offers visa on arrival for many, but airlines still check onward travel at the gate. Here's what proof of onward travel means for Nepal, and how to show it. 🇳🇿 New Zealand Check-in New Zealand asks for a return or onward ticket at the border, and airlines check before you board. Here's how to have it sorted without buying a flight you might not take. 🇵🇦 Panama Check-in Panama is known for checking onward tickets and funds at Tocumen. Here's what immigration and airlines want, and how to get a valid document fast. 🇵🇪 Peru Check-in Flying to Peru without a return ticket? Here's what proof of onward travel for Peru really means in 2026, and how to get one in minutes. 🇵🇭 Philippines Check-in The Philippines is one of the strictest places in the world for onward tickets, and the airline, not immigration, is the one that stops you. Here is what you need, who gets asked, and how to sort it without buying a flight you will never take. 🇪🇺 Schengen area Visa application Applying for a Schengen visa? You need a flight reservation, not a bought ticket. Here is what the consulates actually want, why several of them tell you not to buy the flight until your visa is approved, and how to get a real one in minutes. 🇸🇬 Singapore Immigration Singapore is strict, and airlines flying you in are stricter. Here's what proof of onward travel means for Singapore and how to show it without stress. 🇿🇦 South Africa Immigration Flying to South Africa? Airlines and immigration often want to see a return or onward ticket. Here's what proof of onward travel means and how to show it. 🇰🇷 South Korea Check-in South Korea uses a K-ETA for many visa-free visitors, but the airline can still ask for onward travel at check-in. Here's what to have ready before you fly. 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka Visa application Sri Lanka's ETA and airline check-in can both ask for onward travel. Here's what proof of onward travel means for Sri Lanka and how to show it calmly. 🇹🇼 Taiwan Check-in Taiwan is easy to enter for a lot of passports, but airlines still check onward travel before boarding. Here's what to have ready before you fly. 🇹🇭 Thailand Check-in Thailand wants to see you leaving before it will let you in. Here is what proof of onward travel really means, who gets asked, and the cheapest way to keep everyone happy without burning money on a flight you will never take. 🇹🇷 Turkey Check-in Flying to Turkey without a return flight booked? Here's what counts as proof of onward travel, why airlines check it, and how to sort it in minutes. 🇬🇧 United Kingdom Immigration The UK has no hard onward-ticket rule, and we won't pretend otherwise. Here's when you can still be asked about your plans to leave, and what's worth having ready. 🇺🇸 United States Check-in Flying to the US on ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program? A return or onward ticket is part of the rules, and airlines check it. Here's how it works, including the Canada and Mexico wrinkle. 🇻🇳 Vietnam Check-in Vietnam's e-visa is generous, but airlines still check for onward travel at the gate. Here's what proof of onward travel means for Vietnam, who gets asked, and how to show it without buying a flight you may not take.

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Rules change and individual officers decide on the day. These summaries are a starting point, not legal advice; the full guide for each country links its official sources.